Letter To The Editor-Dr. Michelle Johnstone

Posted:
07/16/2013 08:21:26 AM MDT

Updated:
07/16/2013 08:21:58 AM MDT

Dear Brush School District Community,We hope the summer is going great! Thank you for taking time to provide us with feedback in three areas this spring; 360 Survey, MLO Survey, and the high school graduation survey. All the information gathered is used to plan for the future. The 360 Survey has been gathered every May for the last three years. This survey informs us on how we are doing as a district on nine standards; curriculum, evaluation and assessment, instruction, district culture, student, family and community support, professional growth, leadership, organizational structure and resources, and effective planning.This survey also informs the board on how I am doing as your Superintendent based on five standards - student achievement, leadership, fiscal and human resource responsibility, school culture and communication, and community relations.We will use this information in our Board Retreat this week to set Board and Superintendent goals for 2013-2014. This year we will also provide you with a copy of the completed evaluation for myself, board, and district in the coming days on our district website at www.brushschools.org.The Mill Levy Override Survey was mailed in June to 4,581 Mill Levy Override registered voters from lists provided by both Morgan County and Washington County clerks.There were 453 (9.3%) returned to us as non-deliverable.

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We had 733 of you return surveys which is 17.6%, thank you!Our survey questions focused on the following information - Colorado School Finance is funded by a mix of property taxes, specific ownership taxes, and the state share (funded by income and sales taxes).For the upcoming 2013-2014 school year, 56.3% of total program funding comes from the local share and 43.6% comes from the state. Since 2010, the legislature implemented a negative factor and cut the District’s state share by a combined $6.2 million through next year.On average, this cut is over $1,000 per child per year for four years!In order to recover a portion of this reduced state funding and provide adequate opportunities for our students, the District proposes a $1.5 million increase in property taxes.The Mill Levy Override proposal is based on community feedback and provides funding in three key areas: School Safety, Academic Achievement, and Technology.Overall from the 733 surveys returned 34% were supportive, 62% we not supportive, and 4% offered no opinion.We also received over 343 comments which have been read and reviewed by the MLO committee on July 11. Our committee discussions will be shared with our Board of Education during the July 16 board meeting. Following the board discussion additional information will be provided to you.Lastly, we requested feedback from the students and families of our 2014 BHS seniors as to the dates and times they would prefer to have the graduation and baccalaureate ceremonies. We had 42 returned with 33 in favor of remaining with Saturday graduation at 10 a.m. and baccalaureate Friday night at 7 pm. Thank you!We are committed to asking for your feedback. Thank you to all who have so graciously given of your time and provided us with valuable feedback. Your voice matters in the Brush School District!Sincerely,